Gillibobs' Blog

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It’s amazing what a couple of good night’s sleep can do. After posting that I was feeling a bit rubbish and I hadn’t sleep, I managed to sleep from 23:00 until about 10:30. Hallelujah!!! I also managed to sleep well the next couple of nights, including last night and it really does make ALL the difference.

I also had my staples out yesterday, all 22 of then. Only 2/22 of them pinched a little and it only took 5 minutes.

I am still getting quite tired, but I am managing on just paracetamol as pain relief. My wound isn’t sore all the time, but just when I do certain movements. The hardest bit for me is still getting in and out of bed, where I have to do a sort of rolling technique to avoid using my abdominal muscles too much.

I also got some lovely sunflowers from my friend yesterday and some gorgeous HotelChocolat chocolates from my sister. What a lucky girl I am!!!

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Well I didn’t sleep too well and finally had my biggest snooze of 2 hours around 4:00. I’m still in pain, but I’ve just brushed my teeth and the nurse gave me a delicate wash, but she said I would have a full on bed bath later on.

For the teeth cleaning/wash I had to sit up and move around, as up to now I’ve been lying flat. Let me tell you, it stings – big time. But now I’ve got IV paracetamol so it’s not too bad. Day 2 here we go x

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Well it’s 1:20am as I write this as my sleeping pattern is a bit all over the shop, but you know what… I feel much better than I expected

I went to theatre at 11:15 and was back in my room by 13:45. I asked the nurse to let Moochy know I was ok and I settled down with my morphine button. I’m going to be honest it does hurt a lot at first so the “patient controlled analgesia” or PCA is fab. Thankfully no icky side effects, just a very itchy nose!

Moochy went home to see to Peggy dog when I went to Theatre and came back about 16:30… It was lovely to see him and I’ve a feeling it was mutual.

More in the morning, tired again now xx Next E ntry

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So I write this blog from my room in hospital. Arrived at 8:30 this morning and was shown up to the ward by the ward manager. Gutted to find I’m sharing with another lady who apparently is having the same operation as I am. I’m gutted as I would much rather be on my own when I’m not well

But anyway, I’ve got my gown and (lovely) paper knickers ready and apparently I will be going down around lunchtime-ish. I’ve just met the anaesthetist and we had a chat about my emetophobia, I was pleased to hear he is going to give me some drugs to help combat it as much as possible.

This does however, feel like the longest morning ever…

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Just got in from a lovely morning walk with Peggy dog and I suspect that will be the last one for me for a couple of weeks. Peggy doesn’t really pull on the lead, but I can’t take any chances.

I’ve got just today left in work and them I’m done… Tonight will involve final preparations & trying not to be too nervous. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight and I have to be at the hospital for 7:00. It’s really happening isn’t it?!

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Another ace day it has to be said. Another lie in and then a trip to Bents garden centre for brunch with Moochy’s mum & dad. Lovely.

Then a little light shopping and a trip to see Gran (who is doing great after her own operation). We came home and I had a zzz and then we have spent the evening chilling. I do feel really relaxed and with only 3 sleeps until the big day I think I’m doing ok x

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It turns out I was really nervous about the pre-op, and I don’t know why? It’s not like I havent been through something similar before and I kind of didn’t know the drill?! But I have been now and here’s what happened.

I went to the hospital in which I am having my operation (Spire Cheshire Hospital) and after waiting for just 10 minutes, I was called into the nurses office. I have to admit, whilst I wouldn’t have a word said against the NHS, but private health care is ace – everything is just a little slower, in a good way. The nurse really took her time to make me feel relaxed and comfortable and nothing was rushed.

She introduced herself and told me that she used to be a Senior Sisteron the ward and that SHE had had a hysterectomy at this hosptial 7 years ago and had never felt healthier ever since. She filled in the raft of paperwork and went through some basic medical history questions to go along with the lengthy questionnaire that I had already filled in whilst attending clinic. She then explained that she had to take some blood, do some MRSA swabs and ask some general questions. I am lucky in that I am not scared of needles at all, and she was very good and it was almost completely painless. The MRSA swabs are like big cotton buds and you have to swab the inside of your nose and  in your groin area, along your knicker line – easy.

After all the basic medicallness was taken care of, she talked me through the sequence of events upon my admission….. she said they would go like this:

• Day 1: I have to be at the hospital by 7:00am, having had nothing to eat from midnight, the night before. I will be in hospital for 4 nights and should bring, a face cloth, nightwear, a dressing gown, slippers, toiletries, any medication. The nurse also said I would have my own room with a TV, my own bathroom and even the internet – so I could bring my laptop and blog This is also the day I would have my operation, so I would be given a gown to get changed into and some embolic socks to prevent blood clots. The anaesthestatist and my consultant would come to see me prior to theatre and when it was my turn, a porter would come to get me. I would go to theatre and be put to sleep via a catheter in the back of my hand.

  I would wake up after an hour or so in recovery, usually with an oxygen mask on, a drip attached to the catheter and possibly a drain from my wound. The drip will have morphine attached to it or PCA. Apparently, I will have a button which will release 1mg of morphine every 5 minutes. This is so I can control my own pain and don’t have to keep asking the nurses. She also said I would be quite sleepy for most of this day.

• Day 2: I would get a bed bath on day 2 and the morphine would be withdrawn. The large dressing of the wound will be replaced with a small one and I would be encouraged to sit in the chair if I feel comfortable
• Day 3: By Day 3 I would be encouraged to have a shower, but I would have the help of the nursing staff. I should start to feel a bit better on Day 3.
• Day 4: On Day 4 I will be seen by the physiotherapist and walked up and down the corridor and up and down the stairs. This is to see if I am safe to go home.
• Day 5: I will be discharged on Day 5 with medication, instructions and exercises.

So there you go, this is what I have to look forward to next week. I felt better after talking to the nurse, especially about my irrational emetophobia. So after the weekend, I have only got 2 more days in work…. bit nervous, but its a good thing.

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Tonight is my pre-op appointment at Spire Cheshire Hosptial. I have to be there for 17:00, so I am going to stay in work until 16:00 and make my way. Usually Moochy comes with me on these appointments, but I am going on my own tonight, not because I have to, but because I want to. I have, over the last couple of days, become very nervous and when I am very nervous or stressed, I just want to be on my own. Even though Moochy normally calms me right down, if I get too bad, I can’t be touched, fussed over or even talked to – I just need solitude and quiet.

Although with every stressful moment, there comes a touch of comedy. As part of the pre-op appointment, I have to take a sample of urine with me. So yesterday I went to Sainsburys pharmacy and asked the man if they sold “Sample” bottles. I found myself saying the word “Sample” in a quiet voice and with a tone akin to Les Dawson’s Sissy and Ada routine.

The man did indeed find me a bottle and informed me it was 40p. I had a basket full of a few things, including apples and THIS sent him into a tailspin. “Oh no, I don’t know how to do apples in the till, Oh dear, I might have to go and get someone, ermmmm I’m not sure I can do apples”. “Forget it!” I said, “I will give you the 40p and go and pay for the apples on the main till!”  I couldnt believe it, he was fine with selling me something I have to pee into, but apples…. good GOD NO!!!!

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